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Environmental Policy Instruments (ENST90017)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2021
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
Overview
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The subject focuses on the development and critical assessment of a range of past, current and proposed environmental policies in Australia, Europe, the US and other parts of the world. The subject covers a range of topics including energy, transport, biodiversity loss, fisheries management, rural and urban water use, air pollution, and climate change. Policy instruments covered in class include taxes, rebates, fees, permit trading, bans, informational policies, and legal instruments. Real-world issues and real-world policy responses are compared and discussed. The subject equips students with a set of economic principles and decision-framework that can help develop arguments for or against environmental policies. Students will learn about innovative policy solutions as well as policies with potential pitfalls and unintended consequences.
Intended learning outcomes
Critically evaluate different regulatory approaches for dealing with environmental degradation;
Explain the difference between command-and-control and incentives-based policy instruments;
Explain the causes of market failure and their relationship to environmental problems;
Assess the reasons for and evaluate the effects of government intervention;
Understand the difference between taxes, tradable permits, subsidies, legal and information-based instruments, design standards and how they may be used to address environmental problems;
Apply the theories discussed in class to real-world environmental issues, including water use, energy use, climate change, pollution control, biodiversity, and fisheries management.
Generic skills
- High level of development: oral communication; written communication; application of theory to practice; critical thinking; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information.
- Moderate level of development: collaborative learning; problem solving; team work; statistical reasoning; interpretation and analysis; accessing data and other information from a range of sources; receptiveness to alternative ideas.
- Some level of development: use of computer software.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Environmental Economics, Microeconomics, Managerial Economics
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assignment 1 (Approximately week 6) (approx. 750 words)
| Week 6 | 10% |
Assignment 2 (Approximately week 10) (approx. 2150 words)
| Week 10 | 30% |
Exam
| End of semester | 60% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2021
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Tom Tietenberg, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Pearson International Edition (9th ed), 2012.
Additional readings, journal articles, and multimedia materials may also be assigned and provided.
Recommended texts and other resources
Thomas Sterner, Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management, Published by Resources for the Future and The World Bank, 2012 (selected chapters)
James R. Kahn, The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, Harcourt Brace Publisher, (3rd ed), 2004
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022